8 Final Trial (2)

--- Chapter 7 ---

After listening to me being paranoid, Simon took it seriously and decided to make a temporary shelter in the Tropical Forest instead. The mountain is undoubtedly more scary.

We built a treehouse and camouflaged it between six massive mutated willow trees, which gave us an excellent cover. We can also move around between the gap of willow branches. 

I sat down and checked my gears. My mother packed them thoughtfully for me. Well, most of them are medical kits and survival tools.

Oh, yeah. My grandma also prepared many vials of drugs and venom so I could concoct healing solutions and poisons. If I'm not wrong, I can make up to six healing solutions and twelve poisons with them. 

As for my dad, he gave me the handy ice pick, daggers, some wires, and accessories. 

I glanced at Simon and asked, "Hey, Simon." 

"Yeah?" Simon was busy unpacking his stuff. 

"What do you think is the purpose of these trials?" 

"Well, to test us, obviously." 

"The first trial tests our observation skills." 

"The second trial tests our spatial awareness and decision making." 

"As for the third trial... Survival ability?" He gave me an uncertain look. 

I rolled my eyes at him, "Survival Ability? You gotta be kidding me." 

"They literally caged ten thousand kids with 1st Ascension Realms. You said it earlier, not me. We couldn't fight such a thing." 

"Haha, funny." Simon didn't take me seriously. 

We didn't talk after that. 

Three hours passed, and my body suddenly felt goosebumps. 

I looked at Simon, and he looked at me.

'The 1st Ascension Realm Mutated Beast!' We thought to ourselves.

I breathed in and decided to check the area outside, prying the willow's branches. I couldn't see much, but this humongous shadow stood outside the Tropical Forest's border. 

Aside from the wolf-like head and ape-like body, I can't see more traits from this beast. 

Then, out of nowhere, the massive beast glanced in my direction. Those pair of hungry red eyes gazed at me evilly. 

Thud!

My heartbeat stopped for a second. 

I froze on the spot because the 1st Ascension Realm is much more scary than I expected.

'Fuck!' I shouted in my head, clenching my sweaty hands tightly. 

Simon noticed my body language and was also nervous.

I kept staring at the beast and hoped the beast didn't see our treehouse.

Don't come here.

Don't come here.

Don't come here!

We had an indirect staring contest until the beast decided to turn around and walk away. I kept staring for five more minutes before crashing to the wood floor. 

"T-That was scarier than I thought..." I mumbled while looking at my sweaty palm.

Simon gave me a bottle of water, "What did you see?" 

"A giant beast, over fifteen meters or above. It has a wolf-like head and ape-like body." I replied after washing down my dry throat. "Everything was fine until the darn beast glanced in my direction and glared at my eyes." 

Simon's body trembled, "Dude, how could you not piss yourself in that situation?" 

"Did the beast notice you?" 

"I don't think so." I shook my head gently. "But we can't be too sure." 

"Let's build another shelter." 

"Enough for us to move around the tropical forest and rainforest." 

"Rainforest?" Simon frowned slightly. He had a bad memory of the second trial. 

I smiled and reasoned with him, "The rainforest always has this heavy rain falling over it, which could minimize our scents. And we aren't going to get off the tree, so we also left no trace on the ground." 

"You didn't have a problem climbing trees earlier, so I assumed your climbing skill is good enough not to touch the ground?" 

"My father taught me not to fall." Simon finally smiled. However, there is still horror in his eyes. 

I mean, who wouldn't be afraid of such a scary beast? 

Weirdly enough, we haven't met any other contestants. 

Even after building three more shelters, one more in the tropical forest and two in the rainforest, no contestant entered our vision.

Ten thousand contestants indeed not much in this vast area, but how could they not encounter any?

Night came, and I crouched on a tree branch. 

Simon was fifteen meters away from me and suddenly gave me a code. 

What kind of code? Well, we can't use light or sound. And the area is dark, so our body gesture is not visible. 

But Simon has a way. 

He cleverly used his breathing technique and exhaled air to warm a leaf, which he threw at me to read. The amount of leaves and directions gives me more codes to read. 

I could also do the same after he taught me the basics.

The leaves won't contain heat for too long, so we are safe.

As I read the codes, I narrowed my eyes to the southeast and mumbled solemnly, "A group of five, chased, monster." 

Howl~!

A frightening howl swept the forests. 

Simon looked at me from his position and threw a few more leaves. 

"Stay. I, Check." Simon basically said.

'I thought you were afraid?' I thought and threw leaves in return.

No, stay, you idiot. 

However, it was too late. 

Simon already moved from branch to branch. He's like a ghost in the dark forest.

I facepalmed and sighed, "What an idiot." 

Now, should I chase after him or wait?

Let's wait. 

I trust Simon wouldn't be reckless. 

Five minutes.

I gritted my teeth.

Fifteen minutes.

Hurry up, Simon.

Thirty minutes. 

'Oh, thank god.' I noticed a movement from the southeast and saw the muscular boy carrying someone on his back. 

My mouth twitched because he was bringing a burden along. 

But then, I recalled that Simon's father is from Guardian Squad, which protects and aids people.

He's too different from me.

My parents always told me to be cautious. 

Simon arrived at the treehouse, drenched in sweat. He placed down the burden, and it was a naked blue-haired girl with bloody wounds on her back. 

She's whimpering like a wet dog. 

Wait, dog?

"She got sent flying by the beast," Simon explained. "I caught her instinctively and immediately ran away." 

"She has no fatal injuries, but I couldn't stop her bleeding." 

"At this point, she's going to die from excessive blood loss..." 

"Adam, can you treat her quickly?" 

I ignored Simon and rubbed my chin, "Why didn't Raia teleport her out?" 

"She's clearly not able to survive in this state." 

"What are you waiting for? Treat her wound, Adam?!" Simon urged me in panic. 

I glared at him, "Calm the fuck down, Simon." 

"Did you see the beast when she got sent flying?" 

"No..." Simon answered unsurely.

Oh, no! You fucking idiot!

"Fuck!" I felt goosebumps again.

I grabbed daggers from my sleeve and stabbed them into the blue-haired girl's neck and chest. Simon paled at my action, but I dragged him out by the collar.

"RUN!" I shouted at him. 

Simon didn't know why I was so anxious.

But he will, in two seconds.

AAAUUUUUUU~!

A howl echoed from our treehouse. 

The blue-haired girl suddenly grew furs, and her petite body expanded into a literal giant. 

BOOOM!

Our treehouse got destroyed.

Simon finally awakened from his stupor and had a face of horror. 

He sucked a cold breath and ran with all his might.

Yeah, run, you little shit. 

You actually brought the enemy into our shelter.

Good fucking job!

As I cursed at Simon, we also moved quickly in this maze-like forest, and the beast was chasing after us. 

She's playing the game of cat and mouse.

She's playing with her food. 

"I'd like to see how you wanted to eat us." I forced a grin in this intense moment. 

We ran out of the forest and traveled to the glacier field. I pulled my hoodie and pants off and tossed them into the cold water.

"Throw your clothes into the water!" I shouted at Simon.

Simon only wore his combat bodysuit, but he still followed my order.

So, yeah. Simon only had his brief left. 

After throwing away our clothes, we ran again to the mountain.

BOOOOOM!

I saw a pillar of water behind us.

It seems we successfully got rid of the beast with our scent bait. 

Well, it's only temporary. 

"Increase your pace." I gave Simon a stern look. I used my breathing technique to the max and accelerated again. 

Simon looked at my back in awe and increased his pace. 

We arrived at the mountain and brainstormed to hide ourselves. 

"You two, right there." I heard a childish female voice from below. I looked down and spotted a mud-covered figure inviting us into a hole.

"Hurry up, or the beast is going to find us." She raised her voice a little.

Simon already jumped in, trusting this mysterious girl too quickly.

'Fuck it!' I huffed and jumped into the hole.

AAAAUUUUU~!

We slid into the underground area and heard an angry howl.

It seems the beast lost us.

Bam!

Simon and I crashed into the ground. Mud filled our mouths.

I stood up and saw so many pairs of eyes in the darkness. 

As someone lit up the cave with a light stick, I could see several contestants looking at me.

No wonder I didn't encounter any of them.

They are here all this time!

The girl who helped us wiped the mud off her face and revealed her young beauty. Those golden eyes are eye-catching.

"Phew, that was close..." She said with a sigh.

"We almost get caught." 

"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself." She bowed elegantly like a princess.

"My name is Alice Romanov. I'm the leader of this team!" 

Simon stared at Alice with admiration, "R-Romanov?" 

"???" I tilted my head.